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Different Paths to Collaboration Between Businesses and Civil Society and the Role of Third Parties

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  • Daniel Arenas
  • Pablo Sanchez
  • Matthew Murphy

Abstract

In this article, we suggest that one of the unexplored paths toward collaboration between firms and civil society organizations starts with confrontation or potential conflict, and that the transition toward collaboration can be further understood if one focuses on triadic relationships rather than dyadic ones. We analyze the presence of third parties and their different roles to explain how collaboration is facilitated. The article aims at bringing together the bodies of research on business–civil society confrontation and on business–civil society collaboration. It offers a comparative analysis of four case studies, and proposes a typology of third parties composed of facilitating allies, participating allies, mediators, and solution seekers. We conclude with some implications for further research as well as for practice. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Arenas & Pablo Sanchez & Matthew Murphy, 2013. "Different Paths to Collaboration Between Businesses and Civil Society and the Role of Third Parties," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(4), pages 723-739, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:115:y:2013:i:4:p:723-739
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1829-5
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    6. Josep F. Mària & Jennifer Goodman, 2023. "Conflicts in the framing of conflicts: The case of community investment in a mining company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(5), pages 671-687, July.
    7. Matthew Murphy & Daniel Arenas & Joan Batista, 2015. "Value Creation in Cross-Sector Collaborations: The Roles of Experience and Alignment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(1), pages 145-162, August.
    8. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Boso, Nathaniel & Kutsoati, James Kofi, 2022. "Institutionalization of protection for intangible assets: Insights from the counterfeit and pirated goods trade in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    9. Daniel Arenas & Marta Strumińska‐Kutra & Paolo Landoni, 2020. "Walking the tightrope and stirring things up: Exploring the institutional work of sustainable entrepreneurs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3055-3071, December.
    10. Steve Williams & Brian Abbott & Edmund Heery, 2017. "Civil Governance in Work and Employment Relations: How Civil Society Organizations Contribute to Systems of Labour Governance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 103-119, August.
    11. Jos Rath, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Philanthropy Partnerships: Aligning Leadership, Strategy, and Culture," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(6), pages 195-195, April.
    12. Fabien Martinez, 2023. "Exploring the syncretic dynamics involved in dyadic business–NGO partnerships," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4068-4083, November.
    13. Mojtaba M. Shourkaei & Kelsey M. Taylor & Bruno Dyck, 2024. "Examining sustainable supply chain management via a social‐symbolic work lens: Lessons from Patagonia," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1477-1496, February.
    14. Jorge A. Rodríguez & Cristina Giménez Thomsen & Daniel Arenas & Mark Pagell, 2016. "NGOs’ Initiatives to Enhance Social Sustainability in the Supply Chain: Poverty Alleviation through Supplier Development Programs," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 52(3), pages 83-108, July.
    15. Chia‐Hao Ho & Steffen Böhm & David Monciardini, 2022. "The collaborative and contested interplay between business and civil society in circular economy transitions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 2714-2727, September.
    16. Shaik Mahmood Sonday & Anthony Wilson-Prangley, 2018. "Intermediary Capabilities in the Context of Challenging State Dynamics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 667-682, October.
    17. Villo, Sofia & Halme, Minna & Ritvala, Tiina, 2020. "Theorizing MNE-NGO conflicts in state-capitalist contexts: Insights from the Greenpeace, Gazprom and the Russian state dispute in the Arctic," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(3).
    18. Pablo Rodrigo & Ignacio J. Duran, 2021. "Why Does Context Really Matter? Understanding Companies’ Dialogue with Fringe Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-26, January.

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